Inter Milan striker Edin Dzeko has condemned the racism directed towards his strike partner, Romelu Lukaku, against Juventus last week.
The Chelsea man, currently on loan at Inter, was abused throughout Inter’s clash with Juventus in their Coppa Italia clash last Wednesday. The match was a heated one between both sides vying for a ticket to the final of Italy’s premier cup competition and the racist chants against the Belgian were a fallout of the tensions.
The tie, which ended 1 – 1, saw Lukaku respond by scoring from the penalty spot, after which he celebrated by making a gesture that was deemed provocative. The stadium erupted even further and the striker got a second yellow card, eventually getting him sent off.
Juventus have been punished with a partial stadium ban for one game. The incident, however, is a worrisome one as Italian football has been plagued by racism for the longest time.
Edin Dzeko, speaking ahead of Inter’s UEFA Champions League quarter final clash with Portuguese club Benfica, talked about the incident with the media. The Bosnian striker stated that the chants were a thing that should not have happened, then he thanked Inter’s fans for supporting the players through it all.
“During the match, some things happened that never should on the football pitch,” he told N1. “They have already been spoken and written about.
“Our fans supported us throughout the match. I thank them for their support on the pitch. We have had a good relationship since the first day [I arrived] at Inter.
“This season, I have already won a trophy, but the goal is to always win new titles. In Milan, I won three. I know how important it is for the club to be in the fight for the Scudetto.”
He then talked about the upcoming second leg without giving away too much information on the mindset of his team.
“The fight with Juventus is wide open. At San Siro, we will have to play even better [if we are] to try to reach the final and lift the Coppa Italia,” he said.
They are currently fifth in the Serie A. The Coppa Italia and the Champions League present their only opportunities of grabbing silverware this season.
The Coppa Italia is the more realistic of both titles and this is what Simone Inzaghi will bear in mind when they face Juventus in the second leg of their semi-final tie for a ticket to face either Fiorentina or Cremonese in the final.
